Tellurium hexafluoride

Synonyms

Tellurium fluoride; [NIOSH] UN2195

Category

Corrosive Gases

Description

Colorless gas with a repulsive odor. MW: 241.6; [NIOSH]

Sources/Uses

A byproduct of ore refining; [ACGIH]

Comments

Estimated to be 2.5 times more toxic than ozone, tellurium hexafluoride causes pulmonary edema in experimental animals at relatively low concentrations. Two cases of poisoning occurred after a leak in a laboratory. Patients complained of metallic taste, rash, fatigue, and garlic odor of the breath and urine. [ACGIH] IDLH = 1 ppm; [NIOSH] See "Tellurium."

Biomedical References

Fluorides in urine = 2 mg/L prior to shift or 3 mg/L at end of shift; (Repeated measurements recommended.)

Insufficient data

Yes

0.1 mg/m3, as Te (2.5 mg/m3 as F)

0.1 mg/m3, as Te (2.5 mg/m3 as F)

1 mg/m3, as F, inhalable fraction

9.88 mg/m3

Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs

Other animal data: It has been reported that animals showed evidence of pulmonary edema (disturbed breathing) at the lowest exposure tested, 1 ppm for 4 hours; a 1­hour exposure at 1 ppm produced greatly accelerated respiration but no mortality [Kimmerle 1960].

LCLo (rat) = 5 ppm/4H

Yes

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Pneumonitis, toxic

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Metal Extraction and Refining